“Which is?”
“That you tell me about Tristan. And don’t say there’s nothing to tell because Tristan messaged me last night and—” She broke off as the door opened again. “Maybe Chrissy has changed her mind about needing help—”
But it wasn’t Chrissy. It was Donna, and she wasn’t smiling.
“Sorry to interrupt again but there’s someone to see you. In the circumstances I thought maybe your office was the best place to bring her, Evie.”
“What circumstances? Who wants to see me?”
“Not you.” Donna turned to Abby. “Your mother is here.”
“My mother? Here? No, that isn’t possible. She wouldnever—” She was about to say that her mother would never come in person, when her mother walked into the room.
“Abby.” She nodded and then turned to Donna. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that cup of coffee you so kindly offered.”
“Coming right up.” Donna virtually bowed her way out of the room, which would have been comical if Abby hadn’t been focused on her mother’s unexpected arrival.
“I didn’t know—you should have called—”
“I did call. After I received your message, but you didn’t call me back—” she gave Abby a pointed look “—and I decided it would be better to come in person.”
Did her mother know she’d been putting off the call? Probably. But what Abby couldn’t understand was why one drunken message would induce her mother to get on a plane and come to a hotel she’d been avoiding for the best part of her adult life.
“But—”
“You must be Evie.” Her mother gave Evie a rare smile and extended her hand. “I’m Alexandra Strong. Abby tells me you’ve been doing excellent work here. We’re going to have a talk, you and I. But for now I wonder if you’d be kind enough to—”
“—leave you and Abby alone. Of course.” Evie grabbed a couple of things from her desk. “Use my office. Take as long as you need. I’ll—” There was a commotion outside the door and Evie sighed.
“I’m sorry. I’ve never known a morning as crazy as this one. Whatever this is, I’ll deal with it and give you time together.”
Voices were raised and they could hear Donna saying, “You cannot go in there without an appointment,” followed by “I’m going to call security” and then the door flew open and a man stood there.
Abby had only seen him at a distance before, but she knewwho he was because of Evie’s description which, it turned out, was uncannily accurate. The weasel.
“Finally,” he said, jerking his arm away from Donna who had clearly been trying to pull him back.
He adjusted his jacket and looked round the room. “Busy in here today, isn’t it?”
“I’m calling security, Evie,” Donna yelled as she headed back down the corridor. “And the police.”
“No need for all that drama,” the man said. “I tried asking nicely and that didn’t work, so I thought I’d take a more opportunistic approach. You’re a hard person to get a meeting with.”
Evie’s mouth tightened. “I don’t think …”
“Not you.” He jerked his head at Alexandra. “Her. It’s easier to see the King of England.”
Abby expected her mother to cut him down in a few well-chosen words that would have him backing out of the door as quickly as he’d walked through it.
But she was silent. She looked unusually tired, and Abby felt a stab of guilt. Was she the cause of that? Had her drunken phone call upset her mother so much she’d jumped on a plane and flown here instead of simply calling?
Evie stepped towards him. “You can’t just walk in here.” Her voice was cool and calm. “If you want to make an appointment, I’d ask that you go through the proper channels.”
“I tried the proper channels. I even put in an offer on this damn crumbling hotel in an attempt to force a meeting, but that didn’t work either.” His eyes were on Alexandra. “So now I’m trying the improper channels. How are you, Lexy? It’s been a while. Done okay for yourself, haven’t you?”
Lexy?
Abby couldn’t ever remember anyone calling her mother Lexy before.
